India's Gay Pride

Hundreds gather for the fifth Delhi Pride Parade.

Delhi, India - More than a thousand people thronged into the heart of India's capital for the fifth edition of the Delhi Queer Pride Parade that took place on Sunday in support of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community. Carrying rainbow-coloured flags and placards with slogans, supporters marched to the beats of traditional dhol drums. While some broke into hip-swinging Bollywood-style dance, there were many who kept their identities under wraps by wearing colourful masks. Delhi's Pride Parade takes place annually on the last Sunday of November. Many other cities host pride parades in the month of June, commemorating the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City.

While the first gay pride parade in India took place in 2003, Delhi got its first parade in 2008. It was only in 2009, after such marches and protests hit cities across the country, that the Delhi High Court repealed section 377 of Indian Penal Code - according to which homosexual sexual relations was deemed a criminal offence.

Each year, new issues are addressed at the parade. "This year the theme is 'gender', and we are addressing something that oppresses us all - the straight-jacket of gender," Mohnish Kabir Malhotra, a member of the Delhi Queer Pride organising committee, told Al Jazeera.

The parade brought together members of the LGBT community to support those who face discrimination, violence, abuse and ostracisation because of their gender or sexual identity, Malhotra added.

The parade in its initial years received limited support, from members of the community and mainly young allies, but recent parades have seen a change. "Parents, siblings, grandparents and relatives now come out and participate in the parade," said Malhotra.

"The Pride Parade has brought homosexuality into the open and it is being accepted. It is not something that one only talks about behind closed doors."

Al Jazeera

Hundreds of people joined the fifth Delhi Queer Pride Parade on Sunday. Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code was repealed in 2009 and gay sex was decriminalised - but members of the LGBT community and their supporters feel there is still a long way to go, as many still face discrimination and harassment.

Al Jazeera

Marchers paraded from the heart of the city in support of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) community.

Al Jazeera

The Delhi Queer Pride parade is held annually and addresses various issues related to the LGBT community. These women sport rainbow-coloured scarves - a global symbol of Gay Pride - and carry placards with slogans on the march.

Al Jazeera

More than 1,000 people participated in the event, held in Delhi each year in the month of November.

Al Jazeera

The theme of this years(***) parade was "Gender". Support was shown to those who face oppression and violence because of their gender identity.

Al Jazeera

The parade has seen an increase in participation not only by members of the LGBT community, but also by their parents, friends, relatives and siblings.

Al Jazeera

The rainbow flag is a symbol of LGBT pride, celebrating the diversity of sexual identity.

Al Jazeera

Parade supporters kiss under the flag.

Al Jazeera

Rainbow colours are used all around the world to identify people and places with "queer-friendly" attitudes.

Al Jazeera

Placards with slogans supporting the cause are also carried by participants. The use of the rainbow flag originated in California, United States.

Al Jazeera

A transgender dancer enjoying the Indian capital\(***)s gay pride parade. People marched to the beats of dhols (traditional drums) and songs.

Al Jazeera

Hundreds of people joined the fifth Delhi Queer Pride Parade on Sunday. Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code was repealed in 2009 and gay sex was decriminalised - but members of the LGBT community and their supporters feel there is still a long way to go, as many still face discrimination and harassment.

Al Jazeera

Marchers paraded from the heart of the city in support of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) community.

Al Jazeera

The Delhi Queer Pride parade is held annually and addresses various issues related to the LGBT community. These women sport rainbow-coloured scarves - a global symbol of Gay Pride - and carry placards with slogans on the march.

Al Jazeera

More than 1,000 people participated in the event, held in Delhi each year in the month of November.

Al Jazeera

The theme of this years(***) parade was "Gender". Support was shown to those who face oppression and violence because of their gender identity.

Al Jazeera

The parade has seen an increase in participation not only by members of the LGBT community, but also by their parents, friends, relatives and siblings.

Al Jazeera

The rainbow flag is a symbol of LGBT pride, celebrating the diversity of sexual identity.

Al Jazeera

Parade supporters kiss under the flag.

Al Jazeera

Rainbow colours are used all around the world to identify people and places with "queer-friendly" attitudes.

Al Jazeera

Placards with slogans supporting the cause are also carried by participants. The use of the rainbow flag originated in California, United States.

Al Jazeera

A transgender dancer enjoying the Indian capital\(***)s gay pride parade. People marched to the beats of dhols (traditional drums) and songs.